Woman released after plea over fire at trailer

Suspect, toddler unharmed in blaze in Hermanville

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009

A judge agreed to release Jenny N. Navarro, 18, of Hyattsville following the 62 days she served in pretrial confinement after her arrest on charges including first-degree arson from the July 10 blaze on Treetop Road, which investigators alleged was set while she and her child were in the home.

The woman borrowed some matches from a neighbor by saying she needed them to do some cooking, before she and the 18-month-old child were observed going inside, St. Mary's Assistant State's Attorney Robyn Riddle said at the recent plea hearing.

A fire started inside the trailer 20 minutes later, the prosecutor said, and witnesses helped the woman's husband remove her and the child from the trailer. Court papers state that Jenny Navarro handed the child out a window to a neighbor.

Navarro spoke briefly to Circuit Judge Michael J. Stamm at the court hearing.

"I'm sorry to be in your presence today," she said. "Hopefully, you will not be seeing me anymore."

The judge sentenced Navarro to 18 months in jail, suspended to the 62 days served, on the condition that she receive alcohol, drug and mental health evaluations during two years of supervised probation.

"We're very fortunate that this wasn't something worse," Stamm said, after "placing that child in harm's way. Thank goodness there were no deaths involved."

No injuries to the woman or child were reported from the blaze.

Riddle said the trailer was owned by Navarro's husband, and her lawyer said no restitution was being sought in the case.

The loss to the home and its contents was estimated at $25,000.

jwharton@somdnews.com